WikiLeaks soldier Bradley Manning proposed for Nobel Peace Prize

US soldier Bradley Manning who was convicted of espionage earlier this month has been proposed as a candidate for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

The co-founder of RootsAction, the group behind the move, handed in a 5,000 page petition carrying over 100,000 signatures to the Nobel Peace Committee in Oslo on Monday.

“There is so much of a close connection between human rights, democracy and peace. And – as the saying goes – people want peace so badly that governments are going to have to get out of the way and let them have it,” said Norman Solomon from RootsAction.

Solomon argues that by leaking classified US government files touching on military policy, Manning shortened America’s involvement in Iraq.
The Nobel Committee said the petition would be duly considered but ‘it’s not a popularity contest’. The recipient of the award will be announced in October.